Russia Says India Can Buy Oil From Any Country

Russia has said India is free to purchase oil from any country and that there is nothing new about India trying to diversify its crude oil suppliers. This comes after US President Donald Trump claimed that India had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and shift purchases to the United States and possibly Venezuela.

India has been buying crude oil from several countries for years, depending on price, availability, and shipping costs. Russia’s statement suggests it does not see India’s broader supplier strategy as a sudden change.

Trump Claims India Will Reduce Russian Oil Purchases

Trump recently announced what he described as a trade deal with India following a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claimed India had agreed to end purchases of Russian oil and increase energy imports from the United States.

He also said the US would reduce tariffs on Indian imports from 25% to 18% with immediate effect. Trump added that India would remove tariffs and non-tariff barriers on US goods, presenting the move as part of broader cooperation.

However, India has not publicly confirmed any agreement to stop buying Russian oil. Modi’s post on social media focused on trade and opportunities between the two countries but did not mention Russian crude.

Russia Says Energy Trade With India Remains Valuable

Russia has also stated that its hydrocarbons trade with India benefits both countries and helps maintain stability in the global energy market. It indicated it remains ready to continue close cooperation with India in the energy sector.

A day earlier, Russia said it had not received any official statement from India about ending Russian oil purchases.

India’s Russian Oil Imports Have Already Shown Signs of Slowing

India imports nearly 90% of its oil needs. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India sharply increased purchases of discounted Russian crude.

Recent estimates suggest India’s monthly Russian oil imports have started to slow. Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed India fell to third place among buyers of Russian fossil fuels in December, after major refiners reduced imports.

CREA also reported India’s total imports of Russian hydrocarbons fell to 2.3 billion euros in December, down from 3.3 billion euros in the previous month.

Read more: India Sees Over 2.5 Million Spam Complaints in 2025, Led by Airtel and Jio.

Conclusion

Russia has made it clear it does not view India’s supplier diversification as a major shift, even as Trump claims India will stop buying Russian oil. For now, India’s official messaging remains focused on trade benefits, while oil import trends suggest a gradual slowdown rather than a sudden halt.

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